10-Deazaaminopterin, a potential antitumor agent now undergoing clinical trials, has been synthesized by a new approach involving the Wittig reaction. The ylide obtained by reaction of 6-(bromomethyl)-2, 4-pteridinediamine with triphenylphosphine in Me2NAc, followed by treatment with NaOMe, underwent smooth reaction with diethyl N-(4-formylbenzoyl)-~- glutamate to give the vinyl precursor of the subject compound. Catalytic hydrogenation (Pt ...